WILTSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL 



sometimes overlooked. We are inclined to forget 

 that public opinion does not stand still. An Act 

 of Parliament does not pass into law unless public 

 opinion demands a change ; this is what I infer when 

 talking of the spirit of an Act. To sum it up, you 

 will never create good morals by coercion. 



On Council days, when I look up from the lower 

 benches and cast an eye on the long row of different 

 Chairmen of Committees, I find two at least of very 

 long standing, that is other than the two I have 

 previously mentioned ; they are Miss Stephenson 

 and Mr. Warren. Miss Stephenson is Chairman of 

 Public Health and Housing, also Public Assistance 

 Committees, and as such she has always filled me 

 with admiration and confidence that she will guard, 

 without fear or favour, the interests of that great 

 welter of humanity who come within the orbit of 

 these committees. 



Mr. Warren has served the Roads and Bridges 

 Committee as Chairman for many years. I cannot 

 recall any other man filling this post. I often think 

 what labour and time he must have expended in 

 the public interest and service by attending the 

 monthly meetings and touring the country-side for 

 inspection of roads and bridges — indeed the county 

 owes here a debt it can never repay. 



One could without effort name many other 

 members of the Council who have done and are 

 doing real hard work in the public interest, but 

 space will not admit ; but I must mention one of the 

 permanent officials who has recently retired, Mr. 

 W. J. Bown. Mr. Withy, in paying a tribute to 



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